THE AMERICAN INTELLIGENTSIA 63

or of Congress, are lacking in intellect; for a man
may possess a powerful intellect, as Lincoln did,
and yet be outside the ranks of the intelligentsia
and even inclined (as Lincoln certainly was not)
to regard its contribution to public affairs as
" bunk."

The consequence is that the American Govern-
ment carries on with little direct assistance from
those elements which represent 'the finest fruit of
education. These, as I have said, are to be found,
and found in abundance, actively and beneficently
engaged in other walks of life. Indirect influence
on the doings of their government they doubtless
have, but even this does not appear to be very
great. They also furnish the government with
expert service as required. But they do not
govern.

An intelligentsia, in virtue of its historical
sense, of which more will be presently said, is too
long-sighted to deal effectively with issues that
are of passing or temporary importance. On the
other hand, *a government in whose composition
the intelligentsia forms no part is too short-
sighted to deal with the long-run of events and is
likely, therefore, to sacrifice the greater interests
of the future to the lesser interests of the present.
Its policy will be characteristically short-sighted,
though, perhaps, effective enough for present
purposes. American policy has often shown that
quality.

There are, of course, exceptions to the general